Migration Advice and Visa Services to Australia

Finding and Applying for a Job in Australia as a Migrant

At Migration Expert, we often get questions from many clients about applying for jobs in Australia. It doesn’t matter if you’re an international student looking for work after you graduate or a skilled employee who is moving to Australia and looking for work – many of the barriers remain the same.

Language, work experience, visa, sponsorship, salary expectations, and the rest of the red tape can make finding employment in Australia seem impossible.

We’ll look at how you can turn those obstacles into positives so that you can win those highly coveted positions and make your dreams of living and working in Australia a reality.

If you’re hunting for job opportunities in Australia but aren’t quite sure how to go about it, or which jobs have openings in your field, or where to start your job search, you’re in the right place.

Work Experience
We understand that it can be hard to apply for a job in Australia without any formal Australian work experience. At times, it can feel like the odds are stacked against you when you submit your application for a role; most especially if the job description states that you must have the right to work in Australia to apply.

But how are you meant to obtain the right to work in Australia if no one will hire you? And then you’re back at square one in this never-ending loop.

However, having an international background can be beneficial to globally established countries.

As a foreign worker, you have an understanding of subtle differences in cultures that local workers may overlook. Having lived and worked overseas adds a more extensive depth to your knowledge of specific niches and an extra layer to your skillset, as you would have had experience in applying those same skills successfully to a different market.

Additionally, global companies are not as reluctant to hire overseas workers; most especially if they have offices in multiple countries worldwide.

Many global organisations also have offices and headquarters in Australia, and so employees with international experience are more likely to be recognised and appreciated.

Language Barriers
It might seem that having English as a Second Language (ESL) is a disadvantage compared to local applicants who speak English fluently.

We do recommend that international applicants practise their English regularly, as having great speaking and writing skills will make it easier to thrive in your job in Australia.

If you’re fortunate enough to land a job in Australia, you’d be working with people who speak English fluently at a faster pace, so you do need to be comfortable with speaking, reading and writing in English to be successful in your job.

Having said that, don’t shy away from applying for jobs in Australia just because your English isn’t perfect.

Native speakers of a language other than English are highly sought after by many global organisations who work with or sell to people from that language group as it means you are able to understand the nuances of your language and the culture which goes with it, much more effectively than someone has learned it as a second language. You can also offer a depth of cultural knowledge about your country/region that a local applicant wouldn’t possess.

Cultural Differences
Many companies are seeking to expand their operations abroad.

As an international applicant, you have accumulated a lifetime of in-depth knowledge about country-specific systems and are familiar with cultural customs and expectations which would be extremely advantageous for any organisation looking to grow overseas.

How to apply for a job in Australia
Before you start applying for jobs in Australia, it is best to do some research and see how your industry is faring in Australia.

Start with the occupations list on the Australian Government website, as they have a list of the jobs that are in demand in Australia – so you can get an idea of which areas are lacking skilled workers.

It's also a good idea to see how your industry has progressed, and what the job opportunities are like.

When you apply for a job, submit a cover letter along with your resume. Photos, headshots, biodata and transcripts from college are not necessary (unless the employer specifically asks for them).

It is important to follow all instructions requested by the employer when applying for a job. For example, if the employer states that you must answer certain things in your application, then you must answer submit those answers, or your application will be ignored or rejected.

Additionally, it helps to double check everything before you submit it – ensure that your resume is updated with the most recent information and that your cover letter is interesting while addressing the key criteria of what the employer is looking for and how your experience fits that role.

Get social! Networking on professional sites like LinkedIn is a great way to get some feelers out into the industry before moving to Australia. Many organisations hire candidates from internal referrals. Internal referrals won't guarantee you a job but will help in getting your foot in the door.

We’ve listed all the major local and global companies who have established their headquarters in Australia.
You can check out our previous posts for Australian Headquarters here and our post for International businesses with headquarters in Australia here

Please note, we’re not guaranteeing that these companies will definitely hire you – and we’re not saying that other local Australian Businesses would never hire you.

Our lists are just to help give you a starting point for your job search in Australia.

Good luck!

If you’re looking to apply for a work visa to Australia, and have some questions about the application process, please get in touch with our team! Our experienced migration consultants will assess your circumstances and offer advice on the best path for you.